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Album Details
- Artist: The Reds
- Album: Early Nothing
- Label: TAROCK MUSIC
- Year of Release: 2009
- ME Rating:
- Reviewed by: dscanland on 2009-05-05
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RecommendEarly Nothing is almost there. I didn't care for the Reds previous effort, Fugitives From The Laughing House but this one almost has me sold. These guys have paid their dues but they are still struggling to make a name for themselves. For me it's the vocals that are a difficult battle. Rick Shaffer is obviously influence by the likes of Nick Cave and Tom Waits but he lies somewhere in the middle. His voice isn't gritty enough to be Waits and it's not even close to being as smooth as Cave's. You might even liken his voice to that of Mick Jagger singing slightly off key. With that being said I do love the dark instrumentation of the album. Songs are brooding and gloomy which really works and that is the selling feature of The Reds.
The album starts out with "Big Boy", a song that gives the listener a perfect impression on what to expect for the next 40 minutes. I like the bluesy flavor of "A Few Dollars More".
So really, I think Early Nothing may be the best the band can do with Shaffer singing. It's a ceiling for the band. The group is obviously talented but Rick's vocals are something I find hard to get into. Now this may be completely off for some. I'm sure there are people who love Shaffer but I would be surprised if the band was able to get much further than their indie status.
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Tell us why this album is great or sucks ass, or correct the reviewer. If you write enough quality reviews you may find yourself on the editorial staff.
Reviews have to be over 100 words, shorter ones are classed as comments.
Log In or Register to Rate Albumson 2009-05-27 don1969 Said:
A new Reds album, or another trip to the other side? The first track Big Boy sets you up stomping on your throat with a pounding groove, Doors like organ, and the witness to the confession Mr. Shaffer spewing venom about some fellows problem with heroin. The entire drive of Early Nothing is metallic and atmospheric, at the same time it does have a visual lyric sense, film noir as the record company states, with A Few Dollars More, Sidebuster and Endless being good examples. The album and Reds sound over the years is not for everyone, but Captain Beefheart, Iggy and The Stooges and P.I.L. are not an easy swallow either, or have vocalist's that are pretty boy crooners, or sanitized major label crap. Like the Reds, they all have a distinct sound when you hear their music. As how far the Reds can go, to these ears they seem to be exactly where they want to be. Top Tracks: Big Boy, Diggin' It, A Few Dollars More and especially Endless, which is like Massive Attack and The Doors on a bad acid trip, with an Old Crow chaser.
Rating: 10/10
on 2009-04-09 Louie Said:
Just great hard driving rock. Sort of a musical version of a cool 50's noir movie. Like the way the guitar and keyboards meld together into one very, very cool sound. Vocals are right on!
Rating: 9/10
